Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, officially declared the State of Goa to be officially fully literate under the ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme), marking a significant milestone in India’s journey towards achieving full literacy by 2030, as envisioned in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. This makes Goa the second state of the country to cross the nationally prescribed 95% benchmark for full literacy. The announcement was made during the grand celebration of Goa’s 39th Statehood Day (May 30, 2025) at Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panaji.

Cabinet Ministers; Chief Secretary of Goa; Joint Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education, Smt. Archana Sharma Awasthi; and other dignitaries and citizens of the state were also present at the event.

According to the PLFS Report 2023-24, Goa’s literacy rate stands at 93.60%, one of the highest in the country, with strong performance across both male and female populations. However, as per Goa’s own survey, the state has surpassed this figure and attained full literacy.

To maximise outreach, the Government of Goa in this endeavour used the Whole-of-Government approach. The state government actively collaborated with multiple departments, including the Directorate of Panchayats, the Directorate of Municipal Administration, the Directorate of Social Welfare, the Directorate of Planning & Statistics, and the Directorate of Women & Child Development. These departments played a pivotal role in identifying non-literates within their respective jurisdictions.

In addition, Swayampurna Mitras were engaged in awareness campaigns, assisting learners in receiving literacy certification and facilitating their integration into learning modules. Field workers from the Social Welfare Department were also instrumental in the identification process.

The efforts of the Goa Education team, including SCERT, local administrations, school heads, and volunteers, were widely appreciated. Goa’s success showcases the potential of people-centric, volunteer-driven literacy campaigns, supported by inter-departmental cooperation and inclusive educational tools. It sets a precedent for other states to follow in achieving the national goal of full literacy by 2030. This is a step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram continues to be implemented nationwide, and Goa today stands as a beacon of progress, affirming the spirit of “Jan-Jan Sakshar”.

ULLAS - Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram or New India Literacy Programme is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027. The scheme, aligned with NEP 2020, targets adults (aged 15 years and above) who can’t go to school. The scheme has five components - Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills and Continuing Education. The vision of the ULLAS Scheme is to make India Jan Jan Saakshar and is based on the spirit of Kartavya Bodh and is being implemented on volunteerism. Under the ULLAS scheme, more than 1.77 crore learners have appeared in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) till now across the country. More than 2.40 crore learners and 41 lakh volunteer teachers have been registered on the ULLAS Mobile app.

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MV/AK

MOE/DoSEL/30 May 2025/14

Achieves Press Release